Back in the late 1980s, before performance tuner AMG became an official branch of Mercedes-Benz, the Affalterbach-based personal trainer of three-pointed stars took an off-the-showroom 300E sedan, stuffed it full of massaged V-8 (first a 5.6 liter, later a 6.0) and a catalog's worth of track-tuned chassis bits, and dubbed the hugely fast and expensive result "The Hammer."
So if that was The Hammer, what do we call AMG's latest, far more powerful and formidable tool? Maybe "The Cannon?"
AMG is really on its game. Whereas the original tuning company was best known for building mostly one-dimensional sedans (fast in a straight line, clumsy and unbalanced in corners), the 21st Century AMG, now officially the hyper-performance division of Mercedes-Benz, has of late been cranking out full-bodied supercars with all rough edges smoothed away (i.e., the CLK63 Black Series, the SL63 AMG). With the arrival of the 2010 E63 AMG, based on the all-new E-class sedan, rivals like the BMW M5 and the Cadillac CTS-V may very likely scurry for cover.
Monday, July 6, 2009
2010 Mercedes Benz E63 AMG
2009 Nissan 370Z
The Nissan 370Z is all new for 2009. Almost every piece and component of the 370Z has been re-designed by Nissan. I read a review stating: “this is the fastest production Z ever built.” Amen to that. The car (especially the rear) is definitely chopped over the older versions, has wider-flared fenders, a shorter wheelbase, a lot less room inside than the earlier versions from the 90’s, but it now has sportier lines and is one sharp car! Most of all, it is a blast to drive (it knocks the socks off of the 4th generation version that I owned)!!! I haven’t driven a Z (or even ridden in one) since I had my 1993 300ZX, and this new version did not disappoint.
Pros:
* Stiff, sports-car suspension
* Blazing acceleration
* Seriously comfortable seats
* Excellent handling ability
* Simple, clean interior (not a lot of bells and whistles)
Cons:
* Stiff, sports-car suspension (seemed to have been tuned for the track, because it barely budged)
* Blind spots that you could miss a bus in
* Not much more room inside for anything but an extra passenger, a purse and a briefcase in the back
Toyota 4Runner Sport
Launched in 1984, the 4Runner has always been Toyota’s smaller and more affordable sibling to the proficient Land Cruiser. Even though The original 4Runner was a compact SUV and little more than a Toyota pickup truck with a fiberglass shell over the bed, it proved itself as being rugged and tough. Over the years, the 4Runner has earned its own reputation as a durable vehicle — off-road and on.
Pros
* Better fuel economy than most V6 engines in its class
* Comfortable ride and responsive handling makes you forget that you’re driving a truck
* Intelligent shift patterns from the 5-speed gearbox account for smooth performance
Cons
* Interior is overdue for a makeover
* Third rowing seating suitable only for munchkins, yoga masters, or inflicting torture upon backseat drivers who need a timeout
